Electric treater



March 21, 1961 c, WATERMAN ETAL 2,976,228

ELECTRIC TREATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1957 LOGAN C: WATEQMA/V; WILL/4M 1/. SHIQLEy;

March 21, 1961 L. C. WATERMAN ETAL ELECTRIC TREATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1957 LOGAN C WATE/QMANJ m W s a I 9% M u MW M w, 4 Q/ 2% .5W 4

United States PatehtjQ ELECTRIC TREATER Logan C. Waterman and William L. Shirley, Houston, Tex., assignors to Petrolite Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 14, 1957, Ser. No. 659,160

15 Claims. (Cl. 204-302) Our invention relates to electric treaters for dispersions and more particularly to novel internal structures therefor. The invention is concerned with a high-voltage electric t-reater particularly suited to the removal of small amounts, usually mere traces, of dispersed material from dispersions, which term is herein used as inclusive of emulsions, the dispersions being of the oil-continuous type.

Treaters of this type commonly employ interspaced sets of concentric cylindrical electrodes energized from a high-voltage source of unidirectional potential, the dispersion rising through concentric treating spaces. The high-voltage unidirectional fields coalesce the particles or droplets of dispersed material into masses of sufficient size to gravitate through a rising column of the incoming dispersion. Each of the treating spaces should be of equal width and it has been difiicult to insure this rmult when using sheet metal or other relatively thin cylindrical electrodes. It is an object of the present invention to provide an internal structure by which the electrode spacings can be maintained uniform both immediately after installation and after the treater has been in operation for a prolonged period of time.

In this connection, it is an object of the present invention to employ rigid planar electrodes and to hang them from a support structure so that the weight of the electrodes tends to maintain them parallel, the spacings being determined by the spacings of the hangers. It is a further object to mount a planar electrode to swing laterally and hang in a position determined by the electrode weight. I

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a treating system in which planar electrodes extend in predetermined relation to the axis of the container, for example transversely to the longitudinal axis of a substantially horizontal container.

Another object of the invention is to effectively baffle the dispersion from inactive zones of the treater thereby causing the dispersion to rise only through interelectrode spaces in which the electrode fields are established.

A further object is to frame a horizontal stratum of the container by use of inwardly-extending baflles, the battles channeling the rising dispersion to flow exclusively through treating spaces inside the frame.

Further objects of the invention lie in the provision of features such as plate electrodes with folded edges to increase their rigidity and avoid sharp edges; novel influent and eflluent means for the container to facilitate the desired uniform flow through the treating spaces; a novel arrangement for adjusting the relative positions of the two sets of electrodes; novel horizontal support structures for the electrodes; and a novel insulated suspension for such support structures.

Referring to the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a view of the preferred treater with the container broken away to show the internal structure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the electrode adjusting means of Fig. 1;

2,976,228 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 being taken along the line 22 of Fig. 4; r

Fig. 5 shows one of the preferred hanging means for the electrodes, being taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a similar fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary views taken respectively along the lines 10-10 and 11-11 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the preferred container 10 for the invention is a horizontal cylindrical vessel closed by domed heads 11 and 12, the vessel being mounted in substantially horizontal position by any suitable foundation. This container houses the novel internal structure of the invention by which the dispersion is electrically treated.

This internal structure includes first and second horizontal support structures 15 and 16 from which first and second series of planar electrodes 17 and 18 are hung in a manner to be'described. The electrodes of the two series are nested together to form a plurality of treating spaces 20 open at their upper and lower ends. The incoming dispersion rises from an influent means 21 through v the treating spaces 20, the treated oil etlluent being withdrawn from an upper effluent means 22 and the separated dispersed-phase material being withdrawn by way of a lower eflluent means 23.

The first horizontal support structure 15 includes parallel support members extending longitudinally of the container 10, being illustrated as I-beams 25 secured to brackets 26 mounted on opposite walls of the container at spaced intervals therealong. The electrodes 17 are hinged to this pair of beams to hang pendulum-like therefrom, being capable of swinging in a direction along the length of the container 10. The hinge action is obtained by pairs of hanging means interconnecting the Lbeams and the electrodes, a. link-type hanging means of bent hanger character being preferred. Such a link can be of an open hook-like or closed shape. While it may be connected to either of the supported or supporting members, being loosely coupled to the other, we prefer to secure the link to the supporting I-beams and to couple the supported electrodes loosely thereto.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4-6, the preferred hanging means includes a plurality of U-bolts 30 having threaded legs 31 extending through holes in a lower flange 32 of each of the I-beams 25. The spacing of such holes relative to holes for other U-bolts in the same series will determine the ultimate spacing of the electrodes 17. The resulting series of. U-bolts depending from each I-beam will provide a series of openings 33 ('Fig. 5) each bounded by a lower wall 34 sloping downwardly to a lowermost saddle-like position. Each U-bolt is linked with an electrode by passing through an opening 35 in an upper section thereof, the weight of the electrode causing it to slide along the sloping wall 34 to the saddle-like lowermost position. The electrode thus hanging from the U-bolts is capable of swinging 'in a plane transverse to the plane of the electrode.

It will thus be apparent that the spacing of the U-bolts the bight portion of the U-bolt is preferably made of V-shape so that the wall 34 slopes steeply to the lowermost portion. In addition, it is desirable that the edges at each end of each opening 35 should be chamfered to provide diverging surfaces sliding along the sloping lower wall 34.

It will thus be apparent that each electrode 17 is supported by a pair of hangers linked with upper portions of the electrode and positioned on opposite sides of the vertical midplane of the container. If each electrode is made of heavy metal plate that is substantially flat, such electrodes 17 will hang equally spaced and in parallel relation and the upward column of dispersion rising from the infiuent means 21 to the effluent means 22 will not change the electrode positions. If it is desired to use thinner material, the upper and lower portions of each electrode can be folded back upon the main body of the electrode, as suggested in Figs. and 9, thus giving increased rigidity to the electrode and greater uniformity of the electric fields adjacent such portions.

It will be observed from Fig. 4 that the ends 38 of each electrode 17 are cut at an angle to approximate the curvature of the container in the upper zone or stratum in which the electrodes are supported. The ends 38 preferably lie close to the container walls.

Should any or all of the electrodes 17 be initially warped, suitable spacers can be provided to bring the warped electrode into the desired equidistant spacing from its neighbors. Two types of spacers are shown in Figs. 4, 8, 9 and 11 and can be used alternately or together. Equal spacings of the central portions of the lower edges can be insured by welding tabs 40 to depend from such portions, these tabs providing aligned openings 41 through which a suitable spacer 42 can extend. This spacer can be a bar with notches 43 spaced at the desired electrode spacing. Warpage causing unequal spacing of the outer edges 38 can be cured by welding an angle iron spacer 44 to each opposed wall of the container and notching the inwardly-extending flange thereof to provide notches 44a (Fig. 8) receiving the edges 38. Usually, the spacers 42 and 44 are not required, being useful only in exceptional cases where the electrodes are quite long, e.g. -12 feet, and where individual electrode plates are warped or twisted.

The second horizontal support structure 16 provides parallel support members in the form of I-beams 45 on opposite sides of the vertical rnidsection of the container. Support brackets 48 are slid longitudinally along the upper flange of each I-beam and blocks 49 are positioned in supporting relationship with the flange as best shown in Fig. 3. The brackets 48 for each I-beam 45 are supported from suspension members 50 hanging from stick or tubular insulators 52 each depending in its own tubular housing 54 closed at its upper end and open at its lower end to the interior of the container. The housings 54 preferably extend beyond the exterior of the container 10 as best shown in Fig. 4, each housing forming a space for holding a gas or liquid of high electric resistivity around and in protecting relationship with its insulator 52. At least one of the insulators 52 is in the form of a bushing and provides a connection 55 adapted to be electrically connected to the highvoltage terminal of a unidirectional source of potential to energize the electrodes 18 and establish high-voltage electrostatic fields'in the treating spaces 20. While the electrodes 17 can also be insulated from the container and connected to such a source, the drawings illustrate the more common procedure of grounding these electrodes to the container which in turn is connected to the source through a grounded return circuit.

The electrodes 18 are connected to the I-beams 45 in pendulum-like fashion by use of additional U-bolts 30 linked with openings in the upper portions of the electrodes, as previously described with reference to the electrodes 17. The spacings of these U-bolts will be exactly the same as the spacings of the U-bolts supporting the electrodes 17. Correspondingly, the second horizontal support structure formed by the I-beams 45 will thus accurately suspend the electrodes 18 in the spaces between the electrodes 17 and the pendulum action of each series of electrodes will cause the electrodes thereof to hang identically and in parallel relationship. Parallelism is thus insured without resort to strong but expensive accurately-made joints or connections between the electrode plates and their supports.

To insure that the electrodes 18 will accurately bisect the spaces between the electrodes 17, the invention preferably includes an adjustment means for adjusting the relative longitudinal positions of the first and second horizontal support structures 15 and 16. As best shown in Fig. 2, each suspension member 50 can be rigidly connected to two support brackets 43 bridged by the blocks 49. Nuts 57 are welded to the I-bcam 45 and threndedly receive jack bolts 58 which can be clamped in position by lock nuts 59. By simultaneously advancing one jack bolt and retracting the other, the relative positions of the I-beam 45 and the suspension member 50 can be changed. By thus shifting the two adjustment means for each I-beam 45, one side of the electrodes 18 can be accurately centered with respect to the corresponding side of the electrodes 17. By similarly shifting the two adjustment means for the other I-bearn 45, the other side of the electrodes 18 can be accurately centered with respect to the electrodes 17. This assumes that the two l-beams 45 can be shifted relative to each other. In practice, it is sometimes desirable to interconnect the I-beams 45 by transverse members 60 (Fig. 4) and if these members rigidify the I-beams the entire second support structure 16 will shift as a unit, its heavy weight hanging from the suspension members 50 causing it to assume a position determined by the adjustment of the jack bolts '58 at the various support positions.

It will be observed from Fig. 4 that the shape of the electrodes 18 differs somewhat from the electrodes 17. In the first place, the electrodes 18 are of shorter length and provide angled ends 62 spaced from the container a distance at least as great as the spacing of electrodes of opposite polarity. Also, the electrodes 18 are slightly taller so that when their lower edges are in alignment with the edges of the electrodes 17, the U-bolts 30 for the electrodes 18 are at an elevation higher than those for the electrodes 17. This arrangement does not upset the desired uniformity of the field pattern or interelectrode gradient, the planar electrodes insuring uniform gradient electric fields in the treating spaces 20 and the foldedback portions of the energized electrodes 18 serving for ther to broaden the lower edge and reduce the edge eliects or the field concentration thereadjacent.

If any of the electrodes 18 are bowed or warped, the resulting unequal electrode spacing can be corrected by use of a spacer 63 notched to receive the upper edges of the electrodes 18. As best shown in Figs. 4, 9 and 10, this spacer may be a channel with equally spaced notches in its depending legs. Again, however, such a spacer 63 is not employed unless the electrodes are relatively long and are bowed or warped. If used, however, it does not substantially detract from the free hanging of the electrodes as it is disposed near the hinge axis of each electrode.

It is desirable to employ bafiles to block the flow of dispersion from inactive zones of the treater, it being dcsirable that the entire rising mass of dispersion should be divided between and flow substantially equally through the interelectrode treating spaces 20. Between the internested series of planar electrodes and the container 1 are peripheral zones in which electric treatment is less effective or negligible as compared with the treatment taking place in the treating spaces 20. For example, upright spaces or channels 65 are provided between the outermost electrodes 17 and the'curved container walls formed by the domed heads 11 and 12; Unless blocked, these upright spaces or channels may by pas's 'a significant portion of the rising mass of dispersion; To prevent this, we employ baffles 66 extending across and corresponding in shape to the upright channels 65. If the outermost electrodes are at the same potential as the container, the baffles 66 may extend completely acrosssuch upright space or channel, otherwise they' may extend inwardly from the container into close proximity to the outermost electrode. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the preferred practice is to weld or otherwise secure the outer'portion of each bafile to the corresponding domed head and. to support the inner portion of the baffle upon-an angle iron 67 bridging the lowermost portions vof thei ends-"of .the

*I-beams 25.

There are somewhat similar upright spaces or channels 69 (Fig. 4) of reduced treating effectiveness betweenthe ends 62 of the electrodes 18 and the container ltltending to by-pass some of the rising dispersion fromthe main treating spaces 20. To minimize suchj diversion, baffles 70 may extend inwardly from the container near the bottom of the horizontal stratum in which the electrodes 17, 18 are positioned. As shown, the bafiies 70 are supported upon angle brackets 71 and extend inward of the container a distance greater than the horizontal widthof the upright channel 69. As a result, the battles 70 tend to deflect the rising mass of dispersion from the upright spaces or channels 69.

Together, the baffles 66 and 70 form a frame means providing edges bounding four sides of aspace symmetrical about a vertical axis of the container, this space forming substantially the only passage for the dispersion Frising through the horizontal stratum containing the electrodes. If desired, such bafiles may be disposed in a single hori- 'zontal plane or may be closer to each other than shown in Fig. 1.

riser pipe 75 feeding dispersion from a pump-supplied intake pipe 76 to a branch pipe 77 which communicates -with a manifold 78 at two positions each spaced about one-third the way along the container 10. Distributor pipes 79 extend horizontally from opposite sides of the manifold 78 at five positions therealong and terminate in pipe elbows 80 receiving short nipples to each'of which is welded radial spacers 81 traversing the opening of the corresponding elbow, the spacers 81 being in turn welded to a circular spreader plate 82 to support this plate above the respective opening of the elbow 18. The dispersion stream issuing from each elbow 80 is spread by the superimposed plate and rises around the periphery thereof.

If each of the distributor pipes 79 is of a length slightly less than one-half the radius of the vessel 10, the discharge of the dispersion will be particularly advantageous in producing theuniformly rising mass or column, particularly when used in conjunction with the multi-orifice upper efiiuent means 22 shown.

This upper efiiuent means 22 includes a manifold 83 -with a central discharge to an effluent pipe 84 for the -treated oil. sides of the manifold 83 at a large number of positions Collector pipes 85 extend from opposite along the length of the container. Each collector pipe 85 is preferably perforated throughout its length and 'closed at its outermost endby a cap 87. The preferred method of perforating is to drill horizontal holes 88 through both sides of'the pipe. In addition, each collector pipe 85' is preferably shaped to conform to some.ex-

tent 'to'tthe' curvature of the vesse110. The'use of collec gara es tor pipes with obtusely disposed legs, as-shown in Fig.- 4, will"'closely approximate the results obtained: by .useof collector pipes curved to the exact contour of the container.' ,v j -I The multi-on'fice discharge of the dispersion from the pipe elbows '80 below the electrodes and the multi-orifice c'ollectionof'the treated oil in the zone above the electrodes makes possible an equal, once-through treatment ofallincrements of the dispersion irrespective of which of the multitude of treating spaces 20 is traversed. The upward velocity in each of the treating spaces is substantially the same'with this arrangement and it will be noted thatthe electric treatment takes place during flow .ofthe dispersion in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container. These features give rise 'to a superior treating action while still permitting the-use 'ofsimplified equipment less costly to install and maintainthan: in earlier'upright treaters in which the treating spaces are formed between concentric cylinders.

The high-voltage unidirectional electric fields in the treating spaces 20 are of uniform voltage gradient and 'act' to coalesce the dispersed phase material of the dis- .persion into masses of suflicient size to gravitate to the bottomof the container 10 and collect therein as a layer.

This material is withdrawn continuously or intermittently through the effluent means 23, which, again, may be a multi-orifice collector to avoid longitudinal currents 'or'vortex effects in the separated layer which would be '90 from which feed pipes 91 and 92 extend in the zone occupied by the settled layer. Pairs of collector pipes 9 3 and 94', are connected by Ts 95 to the ends of the feed pipes'and extend longitudinally of the tank, being of different lengths so as to intake through their four open ends at positions shown approximately in Fig. 1. The separated material drawn into the'collcctor pipes;93 and 94 is conducted to the exteriorof the treater through a pipe 98 under the control of any suitable valve system known in the art.

As an example of the operation of a treater of this type employing electrodes spaced three inches from each other in a container having a diameter of about 10 feet and a length of about 20 feet, the following results were obtained. In treating a dispersion consisting of a mixture of dilute (6 B.) caustic and No. 1 =fuel,;the mixturecontaining about 1.5% aqueous dispersed material,.

84 and 98. Voltage gradients of :about six kilovolts per inch were present'in the, treating spaces 20 asa result of connecting'the electrodes 18 to a unidirectional: source of potential of about eighteen kilovo'lts.

An important feature of the invention is that it permits moreaccurate maintenance of small electrodespacings than would be possible by use of concentric electrodes which are difficult to form in true cylindrical-shape. In treaters of this type there are advantages in employing treating spaces of'a width of three inches or less. By use of flat, unwarped electrodes, such spacings are easily obtainable with the present invention.

- perience with Other advantages of the present treater will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art whohavehad-exployed.

the more complex designs heretofore gemamazes We claim as our invention:

1. An electric treater for reducing the dispersed material in an oil-continuous dispersion, said treater including: a container; a support structure; insulator means depending from top portions of the container suspending said support structure horizontally in an upper zone of said container, said support structure including a pair of parallel widely-spaced support members having positions equally spaced along the lengths thereof; a hanger connected to each support member at each of said positions; a plurality of planar electrodes each. having a pair of openings near its upper edge, said openings of each electrode being linked with a pair of saidhangers on the respective support members for free hinging of such electrode in a direction transverse to its plane, said hangers hanging said electrodes vertically in parallel relation with electrode spacings determined by the fixed and equal spacings of said hangers, said plurality of planar electrodes forming a first electrode set; a second support structure in said upper zone of said container including a second pair of parallel widely-spaced support members having positions therealong spaced equally from each other, such spacings being equal to the spacings of said positions of said first-named support members; a second hanger connected to each support member of said second pair at each of said positions therealong; a second plurality of planar electrodes each having a pair 'of openings near its upper edge linked with a pair of the hangers on the respective second-pair support members for free hinging of the corresponding electrode in a direction transverse to its plane; said second plurality of planar electrodes constituting a second electrode set, said second hanger suspending and spacing the electrodes of said second set to bisect the spaces between the electrodes of said first set to form upright treating spaces of equal width each bounded by an electrode of said first t and an electrode of said second set, said insulator means electrically insulating the electrodes of said first and second sets from each other; means for supplying to said first electrode set a high-voltage potential to establish electric fields in said treating spaces; means for delivering the dispersion to be treated to said treating spaces, the electrically treated constituents settling in said container to form upper and lower bodies respectively in said upper zone of said container and in a lower zone thereof; and effluent means respectively communicating with said upper and lower zones for withdrawing separated constituents therefrom.

2. An electric treater as defined in claim 1 in which each hanger provides a V-shaped support portion having supporting surfaces converging downwardly, the corresponding-electrode opening having edges engaging said downwardly converging supporting surfaces to slide therealong under the weight of said electrode until both edges engage respectively such converging supporting surfaces to center such electrode below the apex of said V-shaped support portion.

3. An electric treater as defined in claim 1 in which said support members provide openings at said positions therealong, and in which said hangers include upper portions extending through said openings.

4. An electric treater as defined in claim 1 in which each support member has a pair of openings at each ofsaid positions therealong, the openings of each pair being spaced from each other longitudinally of the corresponding support member, each of said hangers being a U-shaped member having legs extending through one pair of openings, said legs being connected by a bight, the bights of each pair of hangers extending loosely through the openings of a corresponding planar electrode to hinge the latter to swing in a direction transverse to its plane.

5. An electric treater for reducing the dispersed material in an-oil-continuous dispersion, said treater including: a container; a support structure; insulator means depending from top portions of the container suspending said support structure horizontally in an upper zone of said container, said support structure including a pair of parallel widely-spaced support members having positions equally spaced along the lengths thereof; a hanger attached to each support member at each of said positions; a plurality of planar electrodes each having a pair of openings near its upper edge, said openings of each electrode being linked with a pair of said hangers on the respective support members to hang said electrodes vertically in parallel relation with electrode spacings determined by the fixed and equal spacings of said hangers, said plurality of planar electrodes forming a first electrode set; a second electrode set comprising a plurality of planar electrodes and a support means therefor supporting same in parallel relation and with spacings the same as said planar electrodes of said first set, said support means supporting the electrodes of said second set to bisect the spaces between the electrodes of said first set to form upright treating spaces of equal width each bounded by an electrode of said first set and an electrode of said second set, said insulator means electrically insulating the electrodes of said first and second sets from each other, said planar electrodes of said first set providing sides spaced from side Walls of said container, said planar electrodes of said second set providing sides extending closer to said side walls of said container than said sides of said electrodes of said first set; means for securing to said side walls of said container only said sides of said electrodes of said second set to hold such electrodes in vertical position and to connect same electrically to said container; means for supplying to said first electrode set a high-voltage potential to establish electric fields in said treating spaces; means for delivering the dispersion tolbe treated to said treating spaces, the electrically treated constituents settling in said container to form upper and lower bodies respectively in said upper zone of said containerand in a lower zone thereof; and effluent means respectively communicating with said upper and lower zones for withdrawing separated constituents therefrom.

6. Anelectric treater for reducing the dispersed material in an oil-continuous dispersion, said treater including: a container; a support structure; insulator means depending from top portions of the container suspending said support structure horizontally in an upper zone of said container, said support structure including a pair of parallel widely-spaced support members having positions equally spaced along the lengths thereof; a hanger attached to each support member at each of said positions; a plurality of planar electrodes each having a pair ufibpenin'gs'nearits upper edge, said openings of each electrode being linked with a pair of said hangers on the respective support members to hang said electrodes vertically in parallel relation with electrode spacings determined by the fixed and equal spacings of said hangers, said plurality of planar electrodes forming a first electrode set; a second electrode set comprising a plurality of planar electrodes and a support means therefor supporting same in parallel relation and with spacings the same as 'said planar electrodes of said first set, said support means supporting the electrodes of said second set to bisect the spaces between the electrodes of said first set to form upright treating spaces of equal width each bounded by an electrode of said first set and an electrode of said second set, said insulator means electrically insulating the electrodes of said first and second sets from each other; a long and narrow spacing memher extending at right angles to said electrodes of said first set in a spacing zone removed from said support structure, said spacing member providing notches spaced equally from each other receiving edges of such electrodes and fixedly holding same spaced equally from each other in said spacing zone; means for supplying to said first electrode set a high-voltage potential to establish electric fields in said treating spaces; means for delivering the dispersion to be treated to said treating spaces,

the electrically treated constituents settling in said container to form upper and lower bodies respectively in said rupperzone of said container and in a lower zone thereof;

and efliuent means respectively communicating with said upper and lower zones for withdrawing separated constituents therefrom.

7. An electric treater for reducing the dispersed mal terial in an oil-continuous dispersion, said treater including: a container having opposite side walls; a first set of parallel equally-spaced vertical planar electrodes in said container extending from sideto opposite side thereof,

said electrodes having ends spaced inwardly from said opposite side walls to form two upright flow channels therebetween at opposite sides of saidcontainer; means for suspending the electrodes of said first set from their upper portions, said means including means for electrically connecting said electrodes to each other and.

insulating same from said container; a second setkof parallel equally-spaced vertical planar electrodes bisecting the spaces between the electrodes of said first set to form upright interelectrode side-,by-side treating spaces therebetween each open at its upper and lower ends to upper and lower zones respectively above and below said electrode sets; means for electrically connecting the electrodes of said second settto said container; means for establishing high-voltage electric fields in said interelectrode treating spaces; means for establishing a vertically moving mass of the dispersion moving from said lower zone toward the open lower ends of said treating spaces and toward said upper zone, said last-named means insaid side walls of said container respectively below said flow channels and at levels below the lowermost portions of said electrodes of said first set, said batfies deflecting said side portions of said vertically moving mass inwardly toward said lower open ends of said treating spaces for treatment therein; and eflluent means separatelywithdrawing dispersion constituents respectively from. the upper interior and lower interior portlons of said container.

8. An electric treater as defined in claim 7 in which the endmost planar electrodes of one of said electrode sets are respectively spaced from adjacent portlons of the walls of said container to'for'm two additional upright flow channels outwardly beyond said interelectrode treating spaces, and including two additional baflles extending inwardly across such fiow channels at positions above said first-named two baffles.

9. An electric treater as defined in claim 8 in which said end planar electrodes are in said second electrode set, and in which said additional baflies are positioned within said additional flow channels at the top of the electrodes of said second set.

10. An electric treater for reducing the dispersed material in an oil-continuous dispersion, said treater including: a container; a pair of elongated support members; insulator means depending from the top of said container supporting said members in parallel widelyspaced relation in an upper zone of said container; a series of pairs of hangers fixed to said support members at positions spaced equally therealong, the hangers of each pair being respectively fixed to said support members, each hanger comprising a rod-like member having bent portions below the support member to which it is fixed, said bent portions being parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane of such support member and providing an opening below and axially transverse to such support member; a plurality of planar electrodes transgenes verse to said support members, each electrode having upper andlower edges and a pair of openings near its .upper edge larger than said bent portions of said hangers and respectively receiving such bent portions of a pair of said hangers to hang such electrode transverse to said parallel support members for free swinging in thefdirection of said support members, said hangers suspending said electrodes vertically in parallel relation with electrode spacings determined by the fixed and equal spacings of said hangers on saidjsupport members, said plurality of planar electrodes .forming a first electrode set; a second electrode set comprising a plurality of planar electrodes and a support means therefor supporting same in parallel relation and with spacings the same as said planar electrodes of said first set, said support means supporting the electrodes of said second set to bisect the spaces between the electrodes of said first set toform upright treating spaces of equal width each bounded by anelectrode of said first set and an electrode of 'said second set, said insulator means electrically insulating the electrodes of said first and second sets from each other; means for supplying to said first electrode set a highvoltage potential to establish electric fields in said treating spaces; means for delivering the dispersion to be treated to said treating spaces, the electrically treated constituents settling in said container to formupper and lower bodies respectively in said upper zone of said container and in a lower zone thereof; and efiluent means respectively communicating with said upper and lower zones for withdrawing separated constituents therefrom.

11. An electric treater for reducing the dispe rsed material in an oil-continuous dispersion, said treater including: a horizontal container providing a treating-separating chamber much greater in horizontal length than height; a pair of beams; insulator means for mounting said beams to extend longitudinally of said container in an upper zone thereof at positions on opposite sides of the vertical midplane of the container; a series of pairs of hangers spaced equally along said beams, each hanger including a rod-like member extending downwardly from one of said beamsand having a portion bent ina plane substantially parallel to said vertical midplane, the hangers of each pair depending respectively from said beams at positions in a lateral vertical plane substantially at right angles to said vertical midplane; a pluirality of planar electrodes each having upper and lower edges and two openings through the electrodes just below 'theupper edge thereof spaced apart a distance substan-' tially equal to the spacing of said hangersof one of :said pairs of hangers and loosely linked respectively withsaid bent portions thereof, the weight of saidelectrode's tendingto make them hang vertically in parallelism from said equally spaced pairs of hangers, said planarelectrodes forming a first electrode set; a second electrode set I comprising a plurality of planar electrodes and' a support means therefor supporting same in parallel relation spaced the same as the planar electrodes of said first set and bisecting the spaces therebetween to form upright treating spaces of equal width each bounded by an electrode of said first set and an electrode of said second set, said insulator means electrically insulating the electrodes of the electrode sets from each other; means for supplying to one of said electrode sets a high-voltage potential to establish electric fields in said treating spaces; means for delivering the dispersion tovbe treated to said treating-separating chamber at positions spaced from each other along the length of said container, the electrically treated constituents settling in said treating-separating chamber to form upper and lower bodies respec- 12. An electric treater for reducing the dispersed material in an oil-continuous dispersion, said treater include ing: a container; bafile members extending inwardly of an inner wall of said container in a horizontal stratum thereof, said bafile members iproviding edges facing toward the center of said container bounding four sides of a rectangular space symmetrical with a vertical axis, said space forming substantially the only passage for fluid rising from below the horizontal stratum to a position above said stratum, said edges-comprising pairs of parallel edges, the edges of one pair being perpendicular to the edges of the other pair; a plurality of vertical planar electrodes disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other substantially throughout the horizontal cross-section of said space and extending parallel to one of said pairs of edges and perpendicular to the other, said electrodes dividing said space into a plurality of interelectrade spaces, said electrodes being arranged in two sets, the electrodes of each set being electrically connected together, the electrodes of one set bisecting the spaces between the electrodes of the other set so that each interelectrode space is bounded on opposite sides by a vertical electrode of each set; means for electrically insulating said sets from each other; means for establishing a high difference in potential between said sets to establish high-voltage electric fields in said interelectrode spaces; means for flowing the dispersion upwardly from a position below said horizontal stratum through said passage and said interelectrode spaces and to a position above said stratum; and efiluent means separately withdrawing dispersion constituents respectively from the container at positions above and below said horizontal stratum.

13. An electric treater for reducing the dispersed material in'an oil-continuous dispersion, said treater including: a horizontal container substantially longer in horizontal length than in height; interspaced sets of vertical electrodes within said container, each set including planar electrodes extending transverse to the horizontal axis of said container, the electrodes of one set having ends spaced from horizontally opposed side portions of said container to provide two upright flow channels having downwardly facing entrance ends, said electrodes lying in spaced parallel planes and forming interelectrode spaces occupying substantially the entire horizontal crosssectional area of said container except for a peripheral channel between the inner surface of said container and the periphery of said nested sets of electrodes, said peripheral channel including said two flow channels; means flowing a mass of the dispersion transversely of said horizontal axis from a position below said electrodes upwardly through said interelectrode spaces to a position above said electrodes, said last-named means including means for introducing the dispersion at a position below said electrodes and means for withdrawing treated oil from said container above said electrodes; two baifies electrically connected to and respectively extending inward from said side portions of said container across said entrance ends of said flow channels at a level just below said ends of said electrodes of said one set; and means for establishing a potential difierence between said sets of electrodes to establish high-voltage electric fields in said interelectrode spaces.

14. An electric treater as defined in claim 13 in which said container is cylindrical and in which said electrodes occupy a horizontal stratum above said horizontal axis of a height less than one-half the diameter of the container, the electrodes of at least one of said sets having horizontally spaced ends converging upwardly to conform to the shape of said container in the zone of said stratum.

15. In combination with an electric treater having influent means for delivering a dispersion to a container and efiluent means for separately withdrawing treated dispersion constituents therefrom, an internal structure for electrically treating such dispersion within said container, said internal structure comprising: a horizontal support structure; a plurality of hangers depending from said support structure in pairs; a plurality of vertical parallel electrodes each hanging from one of said pairs of hangers, each electrode comprising a thin metal plate longer than high and providing upper and lower doublethickness folded edges reinforcing same, said edges comprising edge portions of said metal plate folded flat against the intervening portion of said metal plate, the upper double-thickness edge of each electrode having a pair of openings receiving a respective pair of said hangers; a second support structure and a second plurality of vertical electrodes supported thereby and bisecting the spaces between said parallel electrodes to provide treating spaces therebetween; and means for establishing high-voltage electric fields in said treating spaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 813,048 Levett Feb. 20, 1906 1,405,127 Harris Jan. 3, 1922 2,027,616 Prutzman Jan. 14, 1936 2,033,137 Fisher Mar. 10, 1936 2,041,954 Prutzman May 26, 1936 2,681,311 DeWit June 15, 1954 2,705,221 Clark et al. Mar. 29, 1955 2,820,005 Belke et al. Jan. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,059,804 France Nov. 18, 1953 472,511 Italy June 23, 1952 

1. AN ELECTRIC TREATER FOR REDUCING THE DISPERSED MATERIAL IN AN OIL-CONTINUOUS DISPERSION, SAID TREATOR INCLUDING: A CONTAINER; A SUPPORT STRUCTURE; INSULATOR MEANS DEPENDING FROM TOP PORTIONS OF THE CONTAINER SUSPENDING SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE HORIZONTALLY IN AN UPPER ZONE OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING POSIOF PARALLEL WIDELY-SPACED SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING POSITIONS EQUALLY SPACED ALONG THE LENGTHS THEREOF; A HANGER CONNECTED TO EACH SUPPORT MEMBER AT EACH OF SAID POSITIONS; A PLURALITY OF PLANAR ELECTRODES EACH HAVING A PAIR OF OPENINGS NEAR ITS UPPER EDGE, SAID OPENINGS OF EACH ELECTRODE BEING LINKED WITH A PAIR OF SAID HANGERS ON THE RESPECTIVE SUPPORT MEMBERS FOR FREE HINGING OF SUCH STRUCTURE IN SAID UPPER ZONE OF SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING A SECOND PAIR OF PARALLEL WIDELY-SPACED SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING POSITIONS THEREALONG SPACED EQUALLY FROM EACH OTHER, SUCH SPACINGS BEING EWUAL TO THE SPACINGS OF SAID POSITIONS OF SAID FIRST-NAMED SUPPORT MEMBERS; A SECOND HANGER CONNECTED TO EACH SUPPORT MEMBER OF SAID SECOND PAIR AT EACH OF SAID POSITIONS THEREALONG; A SECOND PLURALITY OF PLANAR ELECTRODES EACH HAVING A PAIR OF OPENINGS NEAR ITS UPPER EDGE LINKED WITH A PAIR OF 